As the World Wide Web Turns: EParent.com Now Has a New "Look" and Expanded Channels

As the World Wide Web Turns: EParent.com Now Has a New "Look" and Expanded Channels

Article excerpt

It is the nature of the Internet and Web sites to evolve quickly. The medium is still young, after all--with new technologies constantly adding more flexibility for users who look to the uniquely interactive Web as a tool for information, education, and entertainment.

EXCEPTIONAL PARENT'S Web site, EParent.com, is no different from other sites in this regard. It has undergone some changes in the past year--and now sports a different, clever "look." As we go through a quick tour of the new EParent.com in this column, I would encourage you to visit the site, as well, to familiarize yourself with the nooks and crannies of this family magazine's cyber-home.

Something old, and something new

EParent.com's re-design has been built around the enthusiastic feedback we have received from all of you. In response to your suggestions and ideas, we have crafted a new "home page" with three main sections that organize the site in a more efficient manner Magazine, on-line Features; and Current Highlights.

The Magazine section informs on-line visitors, who may not necessarily know about EXCEPTIONAL PARENT magazine, of matters relating to our monthly publication: relating to our monthly publication: current articles, as well as "chat" areas relating to selected articles.

Current Highlights focuses on activities outside the regular scope of the publication, such as our upcoming conference, Forum '98 with the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD), to be held in Memphis, Tennessee, October 9-12.

The third main area of EParent.com is the on-line Features, which contains the following channels: Ask the Experts; Associations; Products & Services; and Search & Respond. For Ask the Experts, we plan to feature question-and-answer forums with select professionals who write columns for our magazine and others who work closely with the magazine throughout the year. The Associations channel will cover activities that involve some of the disability organizations that have working relationships with EXCEPTIONAL PARENT.

Some of our old channels remain, but have expanded usage. For example, the Products & Services channel started out as a simple directory listing of some of EXCEPTIONAL PARENT'S products and services. Now we have added a bulletin board-like feature that allows site users to inquire or exchange information about special needs products and services. …